Family of Man Set Ablaze Files Lawsuit against Miami Gas Station

The Miami-Dade County wrongful death attorneys at Farah & Farah have learned that a man who was doused with gasoline and set on fire at a Miami gas station on Christmas Day has died. His family has brought a lawsuit against the U-gas Station at 4700 NW 27th Ave., claiming that the station has been the scene of a “staggering amount” of crime and that the owners had done nothing to address the security issues.

The senseless and tragic incident occurred on Christmas Day when the man, who had been driving and dropping off members of his family after a gathering, ran out of gas. According to the family’s attorney, he walked to a nearby gas station, filled a container, and paid for the gas. While there, drug dealers on the property asked the man if he wanted to purchase drugs from them.

When he said no, one of the dealers allegedly took offense and threw a lit cigar at him. The fumes from the just purchased gasoline ignited and set the man on fire. He managed to roll in a nearby median and extinguish the fire, but not before he suffered serious burns.
He was taken to the Jackson Memorial Hospital burn center. At first he couldn’t speak or move, but appeared to be getting better in the past few weeks. He took a recent turn for the worse, fell into a coma, and died.

The attorney representing the family has filed a lawsuit against Urbieta Oil Inc. and HDEZ Oil Corp., alleging the owners turned a blind eye toward keeping customers safe at the station. “Security can’t be something you put on the back burner,” he told The Miami Herald.

The law firm of Farah & Farah offers our sincere condolences to the family of the man killed in this senseless and avoidable crime. It is a business owner’s obligation to assure that his or her customers are safe while visiting their premises. If you feel you’ve lost a family member due to the negligence of a business, you have a legal right to hold them responsible for their actions. If you have questions about your legal options, call us at (800) 533-3555 or contact us online. Your consultation is free.